“Red Falcon, the ferry involved in the grounding incident in East Cowes this morning in dense fog has now been refloated and is safely alongside.
Passengers and vehicles are currently being discharged at East Cowes.

This ship will now be subject to a detailed inspection and is not expected to return to service today. A revised vehicle ferry timetable will operate between Southampton and East Cowes.

On behalf of Red Funnel, I would like to apologise to all passengers who have been disrupted by this incident, and emphasise that we give the safety of our passengers and crew the highest priority.”

– Fran Collins, CEO Red Funnel

At 11:21am The Coastguard updated the situation off East Cowes;

"HM Coastguard can confirm there is nobody in the water or missing in Cowes Harbour. HM Coastguard has made contact with the person who was initially heard crying for help and he is reported to be safe and well. We have established the person was onboard his own vessel and crying out to try to alert the master of the ferry of the situation.

The Red Falcon, with assistance of tugs, has been refloated and is now in the process of going alongside in East Cowes where MCA surveyors will make an assessment of the vessel.

All passengers remain safe and well and will disembark when the vessel is safely alongside."

– HM Coastguard

Any witnesses who saw the collision, the grounding and/or any passengers onboard the Red Falcon are asked to contact MCA Investigations and Enforcement Unit via email at enforcement.unit@mcga.gov.uk leaving their contact details.